THE whole of Cebu and the provinces of Negros Oriental and Bohol in Central Visayas will remain under Alert Level 2 starting March 1 until March 15, 2022, while Metro Manila and 38 other areas, including Siquijor, in the country will be under Alert Level 1, also known as the new normal.This was announced on Sunday, Feb. 27, by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has approved the deescalation of 39 areas in the country due to the continuing decrease in the number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the Philippines.As of Sunday, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 1,038 new Covid-19 cases, which brought the country’s total caseload to 3,661,049. Of the confirmed cases, 52,961 are active.The country’s positivity rate Sunday has hit the World Health Organization’s recommended five percent, the lowest since the start of 2022.In Cebu City, the positivity has been under five percent since Thursday, Feb. 24.The Cebu City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) reported a 2.27 percent positivity rate on Saturday, Feb. 26. This was the second consecutive day the city recorded a two percent positivity rate, said Councilor Joel Garganera, the EOC deputy chief implementer.A positivity rate of under five percent for two weeks is one of the indicators that Covid-19 infections are under control, according to WHO. The positivity rate is the percentage of all coronavirus tests performed that come out positive.Saturday’s positivity rate came from 10 of 440 individuals tested who came out positive for the coronavirus disease.The EOC also reported 305 active cases, 119 recoveries and no fatalities on Saturday.‘New normal’ areasNograles said aside from the National Capital Region (NCR), the other areas in Luzon that will be under Alert Level 1 are the following:Abra, Apayao, Baguio City and Kalinga in the Cordillera Administrative Region;Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan in Ilocos Region;Batanes, Cagayan, City of Santiago, Isabela and Quirino in Cagayan Valley;Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Olongapo City, Pampanga and Tarlac in Central Luzon;Cavite and Laguna in Calabarzon;Marinduque, Puerto Princesa City and Romblon in Mimaropa; andNaga City and Catanduanes in Bicol.In the Visayas, also under Alert Level 1 from March 1 to 15, 2022 are:Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz and Guimaras in Western Visayas;Siquijor in Central Visayas; andBiliran in Eastern Visayas.In Mindanao, under Alert Level 1 are:Zamboanga City in Zamboanga Peninsula;Cagayan de Oro City and Camiguin in Northern MindanaoDavao City in Davao RegionAlert Level 2The IATF, meanwhile, placed the following areas under the stricter Alert Level 2:LuzonBenguet, Ifugao and Mountain Province in Cordillera Administrative Region;Nueva Vizcaya in Cagayan Valley;Nueva Ecija and Zambales in Central Luzon;Batangas, Lucena City, Quezon Province and Rizal in Calabarzon;Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro and Palawan in Mimaropa; andAlbay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate and Sorsogon in Bicol.VisayasAntique, Iloilo City, Iloilo Province and Negros Occidental in Western Visayas;Bohol, Cebu Province, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City and Negros Oriental in Central Visayas; andEastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Ormoc City, Southern Leyte, Tacloban City and Western Samar in Eastern Visayas.MindanaoCity of Isabela, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay in Zamboanga Peninsula;Bukidnon, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental in Northern Mindanao;Davao De Oro, Davao Del Sur, Davao Del Norte, Davao Oriental and Davao Occidental in Davao de Oro;General Santos City, North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat in Soccsksargen;Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Butuan City and Dinagat Islands in Caraga; andBasilan, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato City and Lanao Del Sur in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.Under Alert Level 1, all restrictions, including venue or transportation capacity and travel, will be removed and all businesses will be allowed to operate.There will also no longer be restrictions for the vulnerable population such as children, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities.The public, however, are advised to continue to adhere to minimum public health protocols, particularly the wearing of face masks and maintenance of physical distancing to prevent a resurgence of Covid-19 cases in the country.